Generalized morality and the provision of public goods: The role of social trust and public participation

Abstract

A growing narrative in literature of organizational accountability and collective actions, which are regarded as key to the provision of public goods (PPG). However, very limited studies have investigated the relationship between generalized morality and the provision of the public good. Hence, we investigate whether generalized morality affects the provision of public goods using the data from 401 villages in China. A hypothesized analytical framework is built up, which concerns the relationship between generalized morality and public goods provision. Our results show that generalized morality is essential for public goods provision. Further analysis reveals that generalized morality can also be fostered by social trust and public participation. The findings highlight that increased generalized morality from intensive public participation is a potential pathway for improving the provision of public goods.